Planetarium



Dec. 24, 1940.1 J. WAHLBERG 2,226,032

PLANETARI UM Filed May 10, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Jaim Wahlberg BY Mw 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 24, 1940. J. WAHLBERG PLANETARIUM Filed May 1o, 1940 N .mwN

Dec. 24, 1940. J. WAHLBERG PLANETARIUM Filed May 10, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 v .if..5555555.51142::$55.

ml m Dec. 24, 1940. 1 WAHLBERG K 2,226,032

' PLANETARIUM Filed May 10, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I N VE N TOR. Jahn Walllerlg,

Dec. 24, 1940. J. WAHLBERG PLANETARIUM Jahn Wahlberg, BY wm AT`TORNEY.

Dec. 24, 1940. WAHLBERG 2,226,032

PLANETARIUM Filed May 1o, 1940 6 sheets-sheet e MQW ATT'ORN Y.

Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 20 Claims.

The invention here disclosed relates to apparatus in the nature of planetariums.

Objects of the invention are to reproduce as nearly as possible the general appearance, the relations and the movements of the planets and to simulate as closely as may be, the sense of these bodies as suspended in space and traveling in their ways without visible means of locomotion.

A further and important purpose of the invention is to present the planetary bodies in association with the sky or the heavens substantially as they appear to the inhabitants of the earth.

Additional objects are to provide a planetarium structure which will be entirely practical from the mechanical point of view, in which all the parts will operate smoothly and quietly and may be continued in action over long periods, for example, to illustrate relations of the bodies at certain periods of time, or to show concurrence of the planets and their moons in creating eclipses and other phenomena, to enable arbitary setting of the parts, such as to facilitate astronomical study and in general, to provide apparatus of high educational, instructive and entertaining value.

The foregoing and other desirable objects are attained in this invention by the novel features of construction, relations and combinations of parts, hereinafter set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and broadly covered in the claims.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of the following specification illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention. The structure however may be modied and changed in various ways, all within the true intent and broad scope of the invention, as will appear from the following.

Fig. 1 is a perspective and part sectional view showing how the planetarium of this invention is 40 constructed in simulation of the celestial dome and with the planets operating in such dome seemingly without mechanical means of propulsion.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken sectional View across the center of the dome illustrating particularly the suspension and operation of the planetary bodies and their association with the respective rings which cooperatively form the sky for such bodies.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan View of lthe gearing for operation of the planets Mars, Jupiter and Saturn and Fig. 4 is a broken sectional detail of the same as on substantially the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

g5 Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan of the gearing for operation of the planets Mercury and Venus and Fig. 6 is a broken vertical section of such gearing l as on line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged broken cross-sectional view of the Earth and Moon representing unit.

Fig. `8 is a broken vertical sectional view of the Mars and its Deimos moon representing unit.

f Fig. 9 is a broken sectional detail of the Jupiter representing unit, as on substantially the line 9 9 of Fig. 10. 1

Figs. l0 and 11 are sectional views of such unit as on substantially the planes Ill-I0 and II-II respectively of Fig. 9.

Figs. 12 and 13 are broken sectional details of the gearing as on line I2-I2 of Fig. 10 and line I3--I3 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a broken sectional view of the Saturn representing unit, as taken substantially on the line I4-I4 of Fig. 16.

Figs. 15 and 16 are broken sectional views sub- 20 stantially Aon the lines I5I5 and I6-I6 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 17 is a broken sectional detail as on line I'l--I1 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a broken sectional contacts for the Sun light.

The present illustrated embodiment of the invention involves a representation of the Sun at I, centrally disposed in a sky representing dome and representations of Mercury 2, Venus 3, the 30 Earth 4, Mars 5, Jupiter 6 and Saturn 1, supported and animated to travel in their orbits about the Sun. These elements may be proportioned and spaced to follow as nearly as practicable the true sizes and relations. The Sun ele- 35 ment is indicated as a globe containing a lamp 8, supplied by wiring 9, extending down through the tubular stem I0, which supports such globe. To make them as realistic as-possib1e, the various elements maycarry identifying names or characters. Thus as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the globe forming the Sun element may have Sun spots I a which become noticeable in the rotation of this element, the Earth element 4, may carry the outlines of the continents, the element |36 may be marked like the Moon, the Mars element 5 may be marked to resemble that planet and the Jupiter and Saturn elements 6, l, may be banded or ringed to resemble the originals.

Mercury and Venus being apparently non-rotative, the elements 2, 3, representing the same are here simply carried by rigid rods II, I2, dependent from discs I3, I4, which rotate to carry these elements in their circular orbits about the Sun.

detail of rotary 25 III The other planets illustrated, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn rotating as they do, on their own axes, are carried respectively by rotating stems I5, I6, I1, I8, tubular in form as will later appear to carry shafting for driving their satellite elements.

The various supports mentioned extend down through the sky structure and the latter, to permit of the necessary independent orbital movements, is made sectional in form, with a central circular section I9, suspended by studs 29, from the Mercury carrying disc I3, and successively surrounding rings 2I, 22, 23, 24, 25, suspended by similar studs 26, from the rotating supports I4, 21, 28, 29, 36, which carry the Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn elements.

A single central mounting for all the mechanism is provided, in the form of a rigid column 3I, having a fitting 32, at the top for connection with a ceiling or other overhead support and tubular in character to pass the wiring 9, for the Sun lamp and wiring 33, for a motor to drive the mechanism.

The motor is indicated at 34, supported from the column at 35, and driving through reduction gearing, shown as a pinion 36, in mesh with a large, Earth drive gear 31, on the upper end of a sleeve 38, rotatably engaged on the column. This sleeve also carries the Jupiter and Saturn drive gear 39, and the Mars gear 49, and the latter supports the Sleeve by riding on the upper end of a stationary surrounding sleeve 4I, secured in a supporting plate 42.

Surrounding the stationary sleeve 4I, is a ro- -tary sleeve 43, having a gear 44, riding on the end of a surrounding stationary sleeve 45, carried by supporting plate 46. In similar fashion, a surrounding sleeve 41, carrying a gear 48, rotates within a stationary sleeve 49, supported by plate 59, and a surrounding sleeve 5I, carrying a gear 52, rotates within the stationary sleeve 53, carried by support 54. The supports 42, 46, 50, 54, are shown suspended by studs 55, in properly spaced relation from a flange 56, carried by the column.

The four rotary sleeves 38, 43, 41 and-5I, carry at their lower ends the respective supports 21, 28, 29, 30, for the Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn elements. The' Mercury and Venus carrying members I3, I4, are shown as rotatably engaged on shouldered portions of a stationary hub member 51, screwed fast over the lower end of the column, being retained in such relation respectively by a stationary member 58, screwed fast withinthe lower end portion of the column and a confining plate 59, secured to the external hub member 51.

The gearing for driving the various elements in proper direction and as nearly as possible at proper relative speeds, comprises first the Earth drive gear 31, on the sleeve 38, which carries the Earth support 21. The Jupiter and Saturn drive pinion 39, on this sleeve meshes with a gear 69, on the upper end of shaft 6I, journalled in support plates 42, 46, 50, and carrying at its lower end pinion 62, meshing gear 63, Fig. 3, which is in mesh with gear 84. The latter engages gear 52, on the upper end of sleeve 5I, carrying the Saturn support 38. A Jupiter driving gear 65, Figs. 3 and 4, in mesh with the Jupiter and Saturn pinion 39, carries a pinion 66, in engagement with gear 61, and the latter carries pinion 68, in meshwith pinion 69, which engages gear 48, gril the upper end of the Jupiter carrying sleeve The drive for Mars is from pinion 40, on the Earth drive sleeve 38, through pinions 10, 1I, 12, 13, Figs. 3 and 4, back to the gear 44, on the upper end of the pinion carrying sleeve 43.

The drive for Venus is from gear 14, on the lower end of the Earth carrier sleeve 38, Figs. 5 and 6, through pinions -16, 11, and connected pinions 18, 19, to gear 80, attached to the Venus carrier I4.

The drive for Mercury is from the gear 8I, on the Venus carrier I4, through pinions 82-83, 84 and 85 to the gear 86 of the Mercury carrier plate I3.

Rotation of the Sun also is eiected in the illustration through gear 81, on the lower side of a the Mercury carrier in engagement with pinion 88, journalled in the stationary support 58, at the lower end of the column and connected with a pinion 89, in mesh with pinion 98, on the upper end of the Sun support stem I0.

The Sun carrying stem I0, is shown as engaged in the lower end of the supporting column and as rotatably supported in this relation by means of the bracket 9i, secured to stationary member 58, and engaging beneath the Sun rotating pinion 96.

Conduction of current to the rotating Sun carrying stem is provided in the illustration by slip contacts indicated at 92, 93, Fig, 18. The upper ring contact 92 and center Contact 93, are carried by an insulating fiber sleeve 240, slidably guided in bushing 24I, and pressed downwardly by spring 242, while the lower ring and center contacts 92, 93, are carried by an insulating ber sleeve 243, secured to bushing 244, fastened on the upper end of the Sun element carrying stem I 0. The separate conductors of the wiring 9, are Shown connected to said ring and center contacts respectively and the lower ring contact is shown as carrying a spring brush 245, in sliding engagement with the upper ring contact.

The manner of mounting those planet elements which turn to maintain the same axial relation ito the Sun is indicated at the left Fig. 2,

Where the element Saturn is shown carried by tubing I8, held by set screw 94, in a surrounding sleeve 95, rotatably retained by screw 96, on a dependent tubular stud 91, xed to the carrier di-sc 39, said sleeve having at the top the pinion 98, in mesh with pinion 99, both on the underside of disc 3l), and pinion 99, having connected therewith a pinion |00, at the upper side of said carrier and in connection, through idler pinions IUI, with the central gear |92, fixed to the outer stationary sleeve 53. With an unequal number of interposed pinions, five in this rst instance, the planet element through relative rotation as between such element and the rotating carrier which traverses it about vthe Sun, will maintain the same axial relation while traveling about the Sun.

The other planet carrying tubes I5, I6, I1, are similarly constructed and operated, it being suicient just to refer to the gears for holding such planets in the same inclined positions and which in .the lcase of the Earth element consists of a series of three pinions ID3, interposed between the outside gear |94, and the inside gear |05, on the stationary sleeve 43.; in the case of Mars the three interposed pinions 'IOS-IIN, |08, |89, between the outer gear III) and inner gear III, on stationary sleeve 43; and in the case of Jupiter consisting of a series of interposed gears II2-II3, II4, II5, between-outer gear IIG, and inner gear II 1, on the stationary sleeve 49. By such means, the planet elements are kept properly facing the Sun element during their bodily rotation about the latter.

Rotation of the elements representing those which spin on their ownaXes and travel of associated satellites is effected as follows:

In the case of the Earth element,'this is made in upper and lower hemispherical sections 8, ||9, Fig. 7, separated by an equator ring |20, the upper section rotating on an inclined bearing |2|, on the block |22, fixed on the lower end of supporting tubing |5, and the lower section carried by concentric shaft |23, rotatably supported in bearing block |24, securedby-screws |25, to the support |22. Synchronous rotation of the two halves in the inclined'relation rshown is effected through a -shaft |26, extending down through supporting tubing having a gear |21, at its upper end in mesh with gearing |128, carried by fixed sleeve 4|, and having a bevel gear |29, at its lower end in mesh with bevel gear |30, on the lower hemisphere shaft |23, the latter carrying :a gear |3|, meshing with a gear |32, on shaft |33, journalled in support |`22 and carrying a gear |34, in mesh with an annular gear |35, on the bearing hub portion of .the upper hemispherical section.

Rotation of the Moon representing element |36, on its oppositely inclining orbits about the Earth element is effected by mounting said Moon element on a projecting stem |31, pivoted at |38, on the equator ring |20, and having an arm |39, of .that stem slidingly engaged at |40, over the edge of a cam ring |4|, xed-to the lower end of support |22, and by rotating said equator ring by a pinion |42, on the lower end of shaft |26, in engagement with gear |43, on the hub portion of the equator ring and which portion is rotatably supported on the axial sh-afting |23.

The Mars element 5 is shown in Fig. 8, as made of two hemispherical shells |44, |45, joined together at the equator to rotate as a single sphere, with the lower section having an internal axial shaft |46, rotatably supported in block |41, held by screw |48, in the support |49, secured in angular relation on the lower end of the tubular stem I6. This shaft carries a bevelpinion |50 in engagement with bevel pinion |5|, on the lower end of the shafting |52, extending up through the hollow stem and carrying a spur gear |53, at its upper end in engagement with gearing |54, carried by the lower end of the stationary sleeve 45.

Mars is represented as having a single moon, Deimos, |55, carried by a rod |56, projecting from -a ring |51, surrounding the tubular supporting stem and journalled on the bearing |58, on inclined support |49. This ring is shown attached to a disc |59, journalled on shaft |46, and carrying :a bevel gear |60, in mesh with a bevel pinion |6l, on the lower end of shaft |52, and by which means such moon element is caused to rotate about the Mars element.

-The Jupiter element 6 is shown in Fig. 9 as made up of upper and lower hemispherical shells |62, |63, separated at the equatorial Zone by fourv moon carrying rings |64, |65, |66, |61, stepped in diameter and journalled on correspondingly stepped shoulders of a supporting block |68, spaced by bushings |69a and secured by screws |69, to a support |10, screwed fast in inclined relation onto the lower end of the hollow supporting stem |1. The upper shell section |62, rotates about a bearing portion |1|,

- on the inclined support |10 and has attached to its lower end an internal ring gear |12 and the lower shell section is carried by the inclined ainal shaft |13, journalled in support |10, and carrying a bevel gear |14, at its upper end in mesh with bevel vpinion |15, which latter is driven through the connected pinion |16, from a bevel gear 11, on the lower end of drive shaft |18. The latter carries a spur gear |19, at itsupper end in mesh with gearing |80, carried by the lower end of stationary sleeve 49.

Motion is imparted to the moon carrying rings by pinion |8|, on axial shaft |13, in mesh with a wide faced pinion |02, journalled on support |68, and in mesh with gear |83, on the upper end of shaft |84, carrying the succession o-f gears |85, |66, |81, |88, in mesh respectively with the gear toothed inner edges of the moon carrying rings |64, |65, |66, |61. 1

The lower hemispherical sectionv |63, is direct ly carried and rotated by the axial shaft |13. Synchronous rotation of the upper shell section is accomplished by a gear |89, on shaft |13, in mesh with pinion |90, on the lower end of shaft 9|, which carries at the top a pinion |92, in mesh with gear |92a engaging the internal gear ring |12, of the upper shell section.

The Saturn element 1 is shown in Fig. 14, as made up of :an upper shell section |93, journalled at |94, on the support |95, secured in the proper inclined polar relation on the lower end of supporting tubing I8, and a lower shell section |96, carried by internal axial shaft |91, the two shell sections separate-d for the three upper moon carrying rings |98, |99, 200, the Saturn ring carrying element 20| and the reverse rotating moon carrying ring 202.

The shaft 293, extending down through the supporting tubing I8, carries a pinion 204, at Yits upper end, driven through interposed gearing 205, from the large ring gear 206, carried by the stationary support 201, attached to the fixed outer sleeve 53. Bevel pinion 208, on the lower end of shaft 203, in mesh with bevel pinion 209, on axial shaft |91, drives the latter and this through pinion 2|0, in mesh with a wide faced pinion 2| Fig. 1'7, effects the drive -of gear 2|2, .which is in mesh with the internal gear teeth of the Saturn ring carrying element 20|, and which carries, Fig. 14, pinions 2|3, 2M, 2|5, in mesh respectively with the moon carrying internal ring gears |98, |99, 200.

The five rings |98, etc., are shown as of successively larger internal diameter and as journalled on correspondingly stepped shoulders of the blocl: 2|6, spaced by bushings 2|1a and secured by screws 211, to the support |95. The upper ring |98, carriesby stem 2|8, the Dione representing moon 2|9. The next ring, by projecting stem 220, carries the Tethys representing moon 22|, the third ring 200, carries a projecting stem 222, mounting the Mimas representing moon 223 and the fourth ring 20|, carries the A, B, C, representing rings of Saturn with the Cassini division, preferably supported on the ball bearings represented` at 224, Fig. 14, to render them relatively rotatable.

The reversely rotating Phoebe representing moon element 225, is shown carriedby a wire stem 226, projecting from the lowermost ring 202, and the latter is indicated as reversely driven from pinion 221, on shaft |91, meshing gear 228, Fig. 16, which carries gear 229, in mesh with the teeth on the inner circumference of the lowermost ring 202,

Rotation of the upper shell section |93, in synchronisin with the lower section |96, isefected by gear 230, on shaft |91, in mesh with pinion 23|, carrying gear 232, which drives gear 233, in mesh with the internal gear ring 234, carried by the upper shell section.

' The motor and all the gearing above the sky structure may be Wholly covered and concealed Withina hood 235, supported from the column, which may be made in independently removable sections to enable convenient inspection of the various parts. With the operating mechanism thus covered, the only moving portions visible are those parts on which it is desired to concentrate the attention, that is, the Sun and its related planets with their satellites. These elements are all preferably colored and marked to be recognizable as miniature representations of the originals and such features may be incorporated as Sun spots on the rotating Sun, the continents on the Earth, the craters on the Moon, the bands on Saturn and Jupiter, the ysemi-transparent and darker rings of Saturn, etc. Similarly, the sky rings may be painted and nished with cloud effects and the like, to serve as a sky-like background orming part of the Solar system represented and aiding increating the effect of the planets seemingly floating and performing their evolutions in space. The supports by which the planetary lelements are suspended, can be so iine and so finished to blend in with the sky, so as to be practically unnoticeable. There is. thus created a fully realistic sense of the planets travelling in space and in their movements effecting such phenomena as eclipses of Sun and of the Moon, etc. Such ph-enomena are readily studied by operating the mechanism at different speeds, by stopping it in different positions of transition and by -setting the parts in different predetermined relations, for instance, either by driving the mechanism up to a predetermined point in a cycle or in another way as by arbitrarily uncoupling one or more trains of gearing and then setting the associated parts in certain desired relations. For the latter purpose, such gears as those designated 6U, 65-66 and 1l), when mounted in the readily removable relation shown, may be temporarily removed and then replaced after the parts have been adjusted in their new relation. The stationary hood which covers the upper part of the mechanism may be shaped to more or less merge into the rotating sky structure beneath it and if desired, may be used for the support of any number of stationary star representing elements about the rim of the sky and which, if desired, may be illuminated.

The structure is particularly compact, for what it illustrates and can be produced at a practical cost and the gearing is readily arranged to accomplish movements approximating or proportioned to the true sidereal time. The axial inclinations and relative positions of the planets can be closely approximated. The movements of the moons, rings or othersatellites can be quite closely represented and it has been shown that one or a number of the satellites and traveling in the same or different directions can be visualized.

It is realized that many changes and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention and coverage of the claims. For this reason terms employed herein have been used in a descriptive rather than in a limiting sense, except Where the intent of limitation appears or state of the prior art may require.

' What is claimed is:

1. In a planetarium or the like, the combination of a stationary tubular column provided with means for supporting the same in suspended relation, telescopically arranged sleeves on the lower portion of said column, means on said column for supporting certain of said sleeves in stationary and others of said sleeves in rotatable relation,` horizontally extended supports carried by said relatively stationary and rotatable sleeves, gearing fordriving said rotatable sleeves, planetary elements suspended from the extended supports of said rotatable sleeves and a sky representing dome suspended from rotatable portions of said apparatus Vand including separate annular sky sections suspended respectively from different horizontally extended supports of said rotatable sleeves and gearing carried by said horizontally extended supports of the stationary sleeves and connected With said suspended planetary elements. Y

2. In a planetarium or the like, the combination of a stationary tubular column provided with means for supporting the same in suspended relation, telescopically arranged sleeves on the lower portion of said column, means on said column for supporting certain of said sleeves in stationary and others of said sleeves in rotatable relation, horizontally extended supports carried by said relatively stationary and rotatable sleeves, gearing for driving said rotatable sleeves, planetary elements suspended from the extended supports of said vrotatable sleeves, a sky representing dome suspended from rotatable portions of said apparatus and including separate annular sky sections suspended respectively from different extensions vof the rotatable sleeves gears connected With said planetary elements, gears carried by said stationary sleeves and connecting gears on the horizontally extended supports of said rotatable sleeves between said gears at the planetary elements and said gears at the stationary sleeves.

3. In a planetarium or the like, the combination of a stationary tubular column provided with means for supporting the same in suspended relation, telescopically arranged sleeves on the lower portion of said column, means on said column for supporting certain of said sleeves in stationary and others of said sleeves in rotatable relation, horizontally extended supports carried by said relatively stationary and rotatable sleeves, gearing for driving said rotatable sleeves, planetary elements suspended from the extended supports of said rotatable sleeves, a sky representing dome suspended from rotatable portions of said apparatus and including separate annular sky sections suspended respectively from different extensions of the rotatable sleeves, said gearing operating said rotatable sleeves at different speeds, certain of said planet elements having rotary portions and gearing carried by said stationary sleeves for operating said rotary portions.

4. In a planetarium or the like, the combination of a stationary tubular column provided with means for supporting the same in suspended relation, telescopically arranged sleeves on the lower portion of said column, means on said column for supporting certain of said sleeves in stationary and others of said sleeves in rotatable relation, horizontally extended supports carried by said relatively stationary and rotatable sleeves, gearing for driving said rotatable sleeves, planetary elements suspended from the extended supports of said rotatable sleeves, a sky representing dome suspended from rotatable portions of said apparatus, a Sun representing element rotatably suspended from the end of the column at the center of said sky structure and means for effecting rotation of said Sun element, including gearing operated from one of said rotatable sleeves, gearing carried by the horizontally extended supports of the stationary sleeves for imparting movement to the planetary elements and said sky representing dome being in annular sections connected with the horizontally extended supports of different rotatable sleeves.

5. In a planetarium or the like, the combination of a stationary tubular column provided with means for supporting the same in suspended relation, telescopically arranged sleeves on the lower portion of said column, means on said column for supporting certain of said sleeves in stationary and others of said sleeves in rotatable relation, horizontally extended supports carried by said relatively stationary and rotatable sleeves, gearing for driving said rotatable sleeves, planetary elements suspended from the extended supports of said rotatable sleeves, a sky representing dome suspended from rotatable portions of said apparatus and gearing interposed between at least one of said stationary sleeves and one of said rotating planetary elements and carried by the horizontally extended support of one of said rotatable sleeves, said Sky representing dome being in annular sections supported by horizontally extended supports of the rotatable sleeves.

6. In a planetarium or the like, the combination of a supporting column, means at the upper end of said column for supporting the same in suspended relation, outstanding carriers mounted in concentric relation on said column, transversely curved annular sky forming sections at the lower end of said column suspended from said outstanding carriers, means for rotating said car. riers and the sky sections suspended therefrom at different speeds, supports extending from said carriers down through the sky sections suspended therefrom and planet representing elements carried by said supports beneath said rotating sky sections.

7. In a planetarium or the like, the combination of a supporting column, means at the upper end of said column for supporting the same in suspended relation, outstanding carriers mounted in concentric relation on said column, transversely curved annular sky forming sections at the lower end of said column suspended from said outstanding carriers, means for rotating said carriers and the sky sections suspended therefrom at different speeds, supports extending from said carriers down through the sky sections suspended therefrom, planet representing elements carried by said supports beneath said rotating sky sections, said planet supports being rotatably mounted in said carriers and gearing for effecting rotation of said carriers and rotation of said supports in relation to the carriers for the same.

8. In a planetarium or the like, the combination of a supporting column, outstanding carriers mounted in concentric relation on said column, annular sky forming sections suspended from said outstanding carriers, means for rotating said carriers and the sky sections suspended therefrom at different speeds, supports extending from said carriers down through the sky sections suspended therefrom, planet representing elements carried by said supports beneath said rotating sky sections, satellite elements carried by one or more planetary elements and drive mechanism extending down through one or more said planet suspending support for operatingl said satellite elements.

9. In a planetarium or the like, the combina.- tion of a supporting column, means at the upper end of said column for supporting the same in suspended relation, outstanding carriers mounted in concentric relation on'said column, transversely curved annular sky forming sections at the lower end of said column suspended from said outstanding carriers, means for rotating said carriers and the sky sections suspended therefrom at different speeds, supports extending from said carriers down through the sky sections suspended therefrom, planet representing elements carried by said supports beneath said rotating sky sections, said sky structure including a central disc portion and a Sun representing element suspended from said column below said central disc section.

l0. In a planetarium or the like, the combination of a supporting column, means at the upper end of said column for supporting the same in suspended relation, outstanding carriers mounted in concentric relation on said column, transversely curved annularA sky forming sections at the lower end of said column suspended from said outstanding carriers, means for rotating said carriers and the sky sections suspended therefrom at different speeds, supports extending from said carriers down through the sky sections suspended therefrom, planet representing elements carried by said supports beneath said rotating sky sections, the means aforesaid including a motor and drive gearing supported bythe column above the sky forming structure and a hood covering said motor and drive gearing.

11. In a planetarium or the like, a planet representing unit, comprising a tubular stem, a support carried thereby, substantially hemispherical upper and lower shells rotatably supported on an inclined axis on said support, a satellite mounting ring journalled on said support, a satellite representing element carried by said ring off the equatorial portion between the shells, a drive shaft extending through the tubular supporting stern and gearing within the shells operated from said shaft for impartingV movement to said satellite ring.

12. In a planetarium or the like, a planet representing unit, comprisingv a tubular stem, a support carried thereby, substantially hemispherical upper and lower shells rotatably supported on an inclined axis on said support, a satellite mounting ring journalled on said support, a satellite representing element carried by said ring off the equatorial portion between the shells, a drive shaft extending through the tubular supporting stem, gearing within the shells operated from said shaft for imparting movement to said satellite ring and gearing for rotating said tubular supporting stem.

13. In a planetarium or the like, a planet representing unit comprising an equatorial ring and substantially hemispherical globe sections at opposite sides of the same, all mounted for independent rotation, a tubular stem for supporting said parts, means for carrying said stem in an orbital path and for effecting independent rotation of the same, a drive shaft extending through said tubular stem, means for effecting rotation of said drive shaft and gearing connections from said drive shaft to said equatorial ring and substantially hemispherical globe sections.

14. In a planetarium or the like, a planet representing unit, comprising an equatorial ring and substantially hemispherical globe sections at opposite sides of the same, all mounted for independent rotation, a tubular stern for supporting said parts, means for carrying said stem in an orbital path and for effecting independent rotation of the same, a drive shaft extending through said tubular stem, means for effecting rotation of said drive shaft, gearing connections from said drive shaft to said equatorial ring and substantially hemispherical globe sections, a reversely rotating ring associated with the first equatorial ring and gearing from said shaft for effecting reverse rotation of said last mentioned ring.

15. In a planetarium, orrery, cosmoscope or the like, a planetary unit comprising substantially hemispherical shell elements, an intermediate equatorial element, a projecting satellite carrier pivoted on said equatorial element, means for effecting rotation of said elements and cam means within said hemispherical shell elements engaged by said pivoted satellite carrier for effecting angular movements of the latter in the rotation of the same.

16. A planetary unit, comprising a tubular supporting stem, a drive shaft extending through said tubular stem a globe element mounted to rotate in inclined relation on said stem, a rotating ring on the upper end of said globe element and rotating about the axis of said supporting stem independently of said globe element, gear connections from said drive shaft within said globe element for independently rotating said globe element and said satellite element carrying ring, a satellite element carried by said rotating rlng.

17. In a planetarium or the like, the combination of a stationary support, telescopically arranged sleeves on said support, means on said support for supporting certain of said sleeves in stationary and other of said sleeves in rotatable relation, means for rotating a rotatable sleeve, laterally extended supports carried by said relatively stationary and rotatable sleeves, a planetary element rotatably carried by the laterally extended support of the rotatable sleeve, gearing connections between said rotatably carried planetary element and the stationary sleeve, whereby rotative movement will be imparted to said planetary element in said extended support in the rotation of said rotatable sleeve, an independently rotatable member associated with said planetary element, a gear carried by the extended support of said stationary sleeve and gear connections from said independently rotatable member to said gear on the extended support of said stationary sleeve.

18. In a planetarium or the like, a centrally disposed Sun element, relatively stationary and rotatable supports concentrically related to said Sun element, a planetary element rotatably mounted on said rotatable support, a gear connected to said rotatably mounted planetary element, a gear carried by said stationary support, an uneven number of interposed gears between said planetary gear and said stationary gear and whereby said planetary element in its rotation in the support carrying the same will be always faced to the Sun element in the same relation during its bodily rotation about the Sun and means for rotating said rotatable support for effecting bodily travel of the planetary element about the Sun and rotation of the planetary element in its support to face said element in the same relation to the Sun during such bodily travel.

19. In a planetarium or the like, the combination of a tubular stem, a support carried thereby, a shaft journalled in said support on an axis inclined to the axis of said tubular stem, a drive shaft extending through said tubular stem, connecting gearing between said relatively inclined shafts and a planetary shell connected with and rotating on the inclined axis of said inclined shaft and enclosing said support, inclined shaft and connected gearing.

20. In a planetarium or the like, the combination of a tubular stem, a support carried thereby, a shaft journalled in said support on an axis inclined to the axis of said tubular stem, a drive shaft extending through said tubular stem, connecting gearing between said relatively inclined shafts and a planetary shell connected with and rotating on the inclined axis of said inclined shaft and enclosing said support, inclined shaft and connecting gearing, said shell being in sectional form, an equatorial ring rotatably mounted on the support between said sections and gearing for effecting independent rotation of said equatorial ring.

JOHN WAHLBERG. 

